Moskowitz Crushes DSA Challenger in Florida Primary

Moskowitz Crushes DSA Challenger in Florida Primary

Hedcut engraving of a congressman speaking at a lectern on primary night

The News

Rep. Jared Moskowitz beat back a Democratic Socialists of America-backed challenger Tuesday in the Democratic primary for Florida's redrawn 25th Congressional District, a defeat for the party's left wing in its push to unseat moderate incumbents.

With 85% of the expected vote counted, Moskowitz led union organizer Oliver Larkin 64.2% to 35.8%, according to the New York Post. Decision Desk HQ called the race, The Hill and WFLA reported.

Moskowitz, a two-term incumbent seeking a third term, now faces Republican Scott Singer, the former mayor of Boca Raton, in November. The Cook Political Report rates the seat a toss-up.

Timeline

Over the past year, the Florida legislature joined 10 states that redrew congressional maps, advancing a plan aimed at turning four Democrat-held districts into Republican-leaning battlegrounds, The Center Square reported. Moskowitz's new 25th District includes territory he has not previously represented.

Aug. 5

Progressive Abdul El-Sayed won Michigan's Democratic Senate primary, per the New York Post.

Aug. 12

Francesca Hong lost the Wisconsin Democratic gubernatorial primary to moderate David Crowley, a setback for the left.

Aug. 14

Larkin rallied hundreds of supporters in Fort Lauderdale alongside Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan.

Aug. 18

Polls closed in Florida and Moskowitz was declared the winner.

Reactions

Moskowitz credited the district's makeup on CNN's "The Source," saying: "25% of this district is Jewish. 20% of this district is Hispanic. People have escaped socialism."

He said voters recoil from the DSA platform: "When they hear folks from the DSA go on television and talk about how they want to abolish the Senate — which, don't give Trump any ideas — and, they want to get rid of prisons and no borders, most Americans hear that stuff and they say, what is going on?" He added that Americans "want change, but they don't want this sort of extremism."

Moskowitz also said his opponent made opposing support for Israel "a core issue," and that "when it comes to Florida, the voters rejected that. They want to hear about other things, other than Israel. This is a pro-Israel district."

Singer has campaigned on taxes and the economy. "In Congress, I'll oppose any tax increases, cut red tape, and grow the economy," he told Ballotpedia, crediting Republicans and President Trump with "the biggest tax cuts in American history."

Larkin had attacked Moskowitz over the incumbent's self-description as a "DeSantis Democrat," a nod to Moskowitz's stint as director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management under the Republican governor.

What's Next

Moskowitz and Singer meet in the general election in November, one of the Florida races Republicans are counting on as they defend a slim U.S. House majority.

Moskowitz has campaigned on lowering the cost of living and building more affordable housing, and has introduced legislation pressing the Trump administration to produce a plan for leadership in Venezuela following the capture of Nicolas Maduro, The Center Square reported. Singer is running on cutting taxes and red tape.

More

The primary was a proxy fight over the Democratic Party's direction. Moskowitz was backed by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee; Larkin, 33, was endorsed by streamer Hasan Piker and former New York Rep. Jamaal Bowman, according to the New York Post.

Larkin, who worked on Sen. Bernie Sanders' 2016 presidential campaign, ran on Medicare for All, abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement, abolishing the U.S. Senate, ending U.S. military aid to Israel, and taxing billionaires "out of existence." He has called Israel's war against Hamas a "genocide." Moskowitz has voted for U.S. aid to Israel and condemned Democrats who use that term.

Most public polling had shown Moskowitz ahead by double digits. The exception was a Democrat-sponsored survey by the Center for Strategic Politics that put him up just two points, 40% to 38%.

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